CVE-2004-2620 in ripMIME
Summary
by MITRE
The MIMEH_read_headers function in ripMIME 1.3.1.0 does not properly handle trailing "\r" and "\n" characters in headers, which leads to a buffer underflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2620 affects the ripMIME 1.3.1.0 library, specifically within the MIMEH_read_headers function that processes email message headers. This issue represents a classic buffer underflow condition that occurs when the function fails to properly validate or handle trailing carriage return and line feed characters in MIME headers. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization where the function does not correctly account for the presence of "\r\n" sequences at the end of header fields, leading to memory corruption scenarios.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability manifests when the MIME parsing routine encounters header data containing trailing carriage return and line feed sequences. The function's buffer management logic does not properly account for these characters during header parsing operations, causing the read pointer to advance beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This buffer underflow creates a condition where subsequent memory operations can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow condition, though the specific implementation results in underflow behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it creates potential attack vectors for remote code execution within systems that rely on ripMIME for email processing. When exploited, the buffer underflow could allow attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. This poses significant risk to email servers, content filtering systems, and any software components that utilize ripMIME for parsing email headers. The vulnerability particularly affects systems processing untrusted email data where header manipulation could occur through crafted email messages.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter tactics. The mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the ripMIME library to version 1.3.2 or later, which addresses the buffer handling issues in the MIME header parsing routine. Additionally, implementing input validation controls, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems, and applying application-level sandboxing measures can provide defense-in-depth protection. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing this library and ensure proper configuration management practices are maintained to prevent exploitation attempts.